ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA9) -- The former Regional Director of the Federal Protective Service has been sentenced for accepting bribes from a government contractor.

Derek Matthews, 47, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for accepting bribes in exchange for helping the company find and win contracts.

Matthews pleaded guilty on April 11, 2013.

He served as Deputy Assistant Director for Operations for the Department of Homeland Security's Federal protective Services and was promoted to FPS Regional Director for the National Capital Region.

"In the fall of 2011, Matthews agreed with Keith Hedman, an executive at an Arlington, Va., security service consulting company referred to as Company B in court records, that in exchange for a monthly payment from Company B and a percentage of any new business obtained, Matthews would use his position to help Company B find and win U.S. government contracts, including with FPS," officials said in a news release.

"In turn, Hedman and Company B agreed to pay $50,000 in monthly installments over a year, as well as a percentage of any new business Matthews obtained for Company B. Hedman and Company B actually paid Matthews three monthly payments totaling $12,500 before the scheme was interrupted," officials said.

Hedman pleaded guilty on March 18, 2013. On June 21, 2013, he was sentenced to 72 months in prison.